Method for weight loading wicks prior to dipping of candles



April 14, 1970 s. R. F. Y. BJORCK 3,505,723

METHOD FOR WEIGHT LOADING WICKS PRIOR TO DIPPING OF CANDLES Original Filed June 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 O I 24 2 2 2 .8 U U 4 FIG.7

VII/Hill". 8 0 iyggzmu gm INVENTOR SVERKER RFY. BJORCK April 14, 1970 s. R. F. Y. BJORCK 3,505,723

PRIOR TO DIPPING OF CANDLES METHOD FOR WEIGHT LOADING WICKS Original Filed June 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR SVERKER RF Y. BJORCK United States Patent 3,505,723 METHOD FOR WEIGHT LOADING WICKS PRIOR TO DIPPING OF CANDLES Sverker R. F. Y. Bjorck, Enskede, Sweden, assignor to Liljeholmens Stearinfabriks Aktieholag, Stockholm, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Original application June 22, 1965, Ser. No. 465,929, new Patent No. 3,390,444, dated July 2, 1968. Divided and this application Apr. 26, 1968, Ser. No. 763,993 Int. Cl. B23p 11/00 U.S. Cl. 29---429 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Weights are applied to wick length in preparation for the formation of candles by attaching an elongated clamp bar to one end of a plurality of parallel wicks, placing a weight on top of each of the wick lengths and pressing the weights downwardly to form generally U-shaped loops whose side legs are at least as long as the length of the candles to be formed, attaching a second clamp bar to the opposite ends of the wick lengths and suspending the two clamp bars in parallel, horizontal relationship in a candle dipping frame.

RELATED APPLICATION The present application is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 465,929, entitled Apparatus for Weight Loading Wicks Prior to Dipping of Candles, filed by the present inventor on June 22, 1965, and issued as US. Patent 3,390,444 on July 2, 1968.

The present invention relates to the manufacture of candles. In a more specific aspect, the present invention relates to weight loading of candle wicks preparatory to the dipping of such wicks in the manufacture of candles.

In the manufacture of candles, it is the usual practice to fasten weights to the lower ends of a plurality of wick lengths, thereafter, hang the weighted wick lengths from the holding or dipping frame of a dipping device, and finally dip the weight-loaded wicks a plurality of times, in a molten candle-forming material, to build up a candle form about the wicks. Heretofore, the fastening of weights to the wick lengths and the hanging of the loaded wick lengths on the dipping frame has required a substantial amount of manual handling. In these prior operations, a number of wick lengths, substantially equal to the length of the candle to be manufactured, are mounted parallel to one another and perpendicular to two spaced sets of parallel clamping bars or jam bars. One end of each of the wicks is clamped in one set of jam bars while the opposite end is clamped in the other set of jam bars. Thereafter, one set of the jam bars is mounted on the dipping frame while the other set of jam bars depends freely from the bottoms of the wicks. A plurality of such jam bars are spaced on the clipping frame and the entire assembly is dipped a plurality of times into molten stearine, petroleum wax, or other candle-forming material. Between each of such dipping steps the molten candleforming material is allowed to cool for a predetermined time before the next dipping operation in order to build the candle as a series of layers of candle-forming material. However, when the wicks are suspended in the manner just described, it has been found that during the cooling periods the outer ones of the candle bodies on the dipping frame shrink more than those arranged in the center of the frame. Since the wick lengths are spaced in lines along the freely-hanging set of jam bars, it has also been found that the inner candles have a tendency to bow to a certain extent and have to be discarded. While certain of these disadvantages of the prior method of weighting wick lengths with elongated jam bars could be eliminated by the use of individual weights on each wick length, this is an even less desirable and more time-consuming method of applying weights.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved method for the manufacture of candles.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for adding weights to the candle wicks preparatory to the formation of candles.

Another and further object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for adding weights to wick lengths wherein a great deal of the manual handling of the wick lengths and the weights is eliminated.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for adding weights to wick lengths preparatory to the formation of candles wherein an improved candle body is formed.

Another and further object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for adding weights to wick lengths preparatory to the formation of candles wherein the outer candle bodies shrink substantially the same amount as the inner candle bodies during cooling.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for adding weights to wick lengths preparatory to the formation of candles wherein bowing of the inner candles of a plurality of candles, suspended from the dipping frame, is eliminated.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for adding weights to wick lengths preparatory to the formation of candles wherein the number of manual operations required is substantially reduced.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for applying weights to wick lengths preparatory to the formation of candles wherein a substantially automatic operation is accomplished.

These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the drawings, wherein,

FIGURE 1 is a side view, partially in section, of a wick length stretched between jam members and illustrating the method of placing weights on the wick length;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a plurality of wick lengths stretched between the jam members of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top view, partially in section, of the weights utilized in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a side view showing a wick length suspended from jam bars and having a weight depending therefrom;

FIGURE 5 shows a plan view, partially in section, of a set of jam bars for attachment of the wick lengths, just prior to the insertion of the wick lengths therein;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view, partially in section, of a set of jam bars showing the jam bars in the position assumed after placement and clamping of the ends of the wick lengths therein;

FIGURE 7 shows a side elevational view, partially in section, of the set of jam bars shown in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of a mechanism for applying weights to wick lengths in accordance with the present invention, with the side wall removed and,

FIGURE 9 is a front elevational view, partially in section, of the apparatus of FIGURE 8.

Referring to FIGURES 1 through 5 of the drawings, the details of the mounting of the wick lengths in pairs of jam bars and the application of weights to the wick lengths are shown in these figures. In the subject drawings wick lengths 2 are shown in FIGURES 1, 2, and 4. In FIGURES 1 and 2 these wick lengths are shown as disposed in a horizontal position, primarily to illustrate 3 the method in which the weights are added. However, it should be recognized that FIGURES 1 and 2 also represent the basic position of the weight on the wick length when the weights are applied to a taut wick length in accordance with the operation of the apparatus of FIGURES 8 and 9. Wick lengths 2 are substantially equal to twice the length of the candles to be formed plus the length required to mount the ends of the wick lengths 2 in the sets of jam bars 4 and the length required to mount the weights 6 on the wick lengths. Therefore, each of wick lengths 2 will form a pair of candles. In FIG- URES l and 2 the ends of wick lengths 2 are attached to pairs of jam bars or clamp bars 4. One of the pairs of clamp bars 4 is attached to one end of each of the Wick lengths 2 while the other of the pairs of clamp bars 4 is attached to the opposite end of the wick lengths 2. As shown in FIGURE 2 these jam bars 4 are, therefore, in parallel relation to one another and the wick lengths span the space between the jam bar sets, perpendicular to the jam bar sets and parallel to one another. Midway between the jam bar sets 4, weights 6 are mounted on each of wick lengths 2. The details of weights 6 are shown in FIGURE 3 of the drawings. Specifically, each of the weights 6 comprises a cylindrical disc portion 8 having annular groove 10 for-med in its periphery. This annular groove 10 is adapted to receive wick lengths 2 and thereby suspend the weights 6 on the wick lengths, as hereinafter pointed out. Weights 6 also have formed through the center thereof an aperture 12. Aperture 12 permits the weights to be stacked on a shaft or spindle after molten candle-forming composition has been melted off and the weights are to be stored or otherwise stacked. Also formed in the outer faces of weights 6 are turneddown depression 14. The turned-down depressions 14 prevent the weights 6 from sticking together when the candle-forming composition is being removed from the weights by the application of heat. This depression or circular cutout 14 will also, obviously, prevent the weights 6- from sticking together due to the creation of a vacuum which might exist between the weights when they are stacked. FIGURE 4 of the drawings shows the pairs of jam bars 4, having the ends of wick lengths 2 clamped therein, brought up parallel to one another with the wick lengths depending downwardly therefrom and weights 6 at the bottom of the generally U-shaped loop formed by wick lengths 2. FIGURE 4 thus represents the positioning of the wick lengths and weights when they are placed on a candle dipping frame. Specifically, the jam bar sets 4 are mounted on the holder or frame of a dipping device, such as the dipping apparatus described in co-pending United States application, Ser. No. 430,868, filed by the present inventor on Feb. 8, 1965 and issued on June 21, 1966 as US. Patent 3,256,567. Obviously, while the vertically-suspended wick lengths 2 are dipped into molten candle-forming materials, candles will form about the vertically-disposed portions of wick lengths 2 to form two candles. Thus, the reason for having wick lengths 2 equal in length to at least the length of two of the candles to be formed becomes obvious. FIGURES through 7 illustrate the details of the jam bar sets 4. FIGURE 5 shows the jam bar sets 4 with their ends terminating at the same point. Jam bar sets 4 are made up to two like jam bars 16 and 18, respectively. Jam bars 16 and 18 are held together in longitudinal, sliding engagement by a bolt 20 passing through each of the jam bars and having a washer 22 on the side opposite the head of bolt 20 and a flange 24 formed on a projecting end of bolt 20. Between washer 22 and flange 24 is a compression-type spring 26 which serves to bias jam bars 16 and 18 into frictional engagement with one another and hold them in this position to permit sliding engagement of jam bars 16 and 18. Jam bar 18 has a hole formed therethrough just sufiicient to accommodate the shaft of bolt 20 while jam bar 16 has an elongated opening 28. Thus, jam bar 16 can be slid longitudinally relative to jam bar 18 while the jam bars are held in frictional contact with one another by biasing spring 26. FIGURE 5 shows jam bars 16 and 18 in their initial position adapted to receive the end of a wick length. To receive a wick length jam bars 16 and 18 have formed in their upper edges notches 30 and 32, respectively. When the ends of jam bars 16 and 18 are evenly disposed as shown in FIGURE 5, notches 30 and 32 in the jam bars are aligned thereby permitting one to pass a wick length through thhe two notches. Thereafter, as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, jam bar 16 is slid longitudinally to the left to thereby clamp the wick length between the jam bars by moving the notches 30 and 32 to positions offset from one another. This offsetting of notches 30 and 32 clamps a portion of the wick length between the edges of notches 30 and 32 and the portions of jam bars 16 and 18 which lie between the offset notches 30 and 32. Thus, it may be seen that a simple and convenient method and apparatus for clamp ing a wick length is provided while at the same time also providing a simple and convenient method and apparatus for suspending the weight from a double-length wick.

The automatic or semiautomatic application of weights 6 to wick lengths 2 and the mounting of the wick lengths in sets of jam bars or clamping means 4, as well as the measuring and cutting of the appropriate wick length, are illustrated by the apparatus of FIGURES 8 and 9. Where convenient and where clarity of description appears to dictate, numbers corresponding to those used in the previous description of the drawings will be utilized in connection with the description of FIGURES 8 and 9. It should also be recognized with regard to FIGURES 8 and 9, that the right and left hand sides of the apparatus are mirror images of one another, with the exception of the hydraulic cylinders. In FIGURES 8 and 9 the apparatus comprises a main frame structure 34; including, a top wall 36, a bottom wall 38, a left side Wall 40, and a horizontally-disposed support 42 mounted on side wall 40 adjacent the center of the frame. Attached to base 38 is U-shaped angle 44. Angle 44 is adapted to support a pivot mount 46.

Pivotally mounted on mount 46 is a hydraulicallyactuated or air cylinder 48. Air cylinder 48 is adapted to describe a vertical are about the pivot of mount 46 and to extend in a general upward direction. Air cylinder 48 has disposed therein a piston element 50; and, attached to piston element 50, is piston rod 52. The free end of piston rod 52 is pivotally mounted to link 54. Link 54 is in turn fixedly attached to rotation bar 56. Rotation bar 56 is mounted to pivot or rotate in side wall 40. Accordingly, by actuating hydraulic cylinder 48, pivot bar 56 may be rotated about its horizontally-disposed central axis. Fixedly attached to pivot bar 56 is arm 58 which is disposed in a generally vertical plane. Arm 58, as may be seen, can be rotated by bar 56 through a vertically-disposed arcuate path. Mounted on the free end of arm 58 is elongated, weight receiving chamber 62. Weight receiving chamber 62 is horizontally disposed and has spaced therealong a plurality of three-sided pockets of a size sufiicient to receive individual weights 6. Receiving chamber 62 is mounted to rotate in arm 58 and has formed on one free end which passes through arm 58 a pinion gear 64. Pinion gear 64 cooperates wtih rack means 66. Rack means 66 is attached to the free end of piston rod 68 which in turn is attached to piston 70 of an air cylinder 72. Air cylinder 72 is in turn mounted on arm 58. Thus, by operating air cylinder 72, the pinion and rack, 64 and 66, will rotate receiving chamber 62 for purposes which will hereinafter be described. Depending from top wall 36 and positioned immediately above the pockets in receiving chamber 62 are a plurality of weight receiving magazines 74. Each of weight receiving magazines 74 is disposed above a pocket in receiving chamber 62 and thus may drop weights 6 into the pockets, as hereinafter described. Mounted along and adjacent the bottom sides of magazines 74 is a weight release means 76. Weight release means 76 is mounted to arcuately move or rock relative to the sides of magazines 74. Accordingly, release means 76 is normally biased with its upper end away from the sides of magazines 74 by a means of biasing spring 78. Release means 76 also has formed adjacent its lower edge stop tabs 80' which pass into or cross the bottoms of each of the magazines 74. Stop tabs 80 prevent weights 6 from normally dropping from magazines 74. However, when the free end of arm 58 is in its uppermost position, plunger element 82 rocks release means 76 so as to overcome the tension of biasing spring 78 and move the bottom of release means 76 away from the magazines 74 and the top into engagement with magazines 74. Thus, when plunger 82 on arm 58 pushes against release means 76, release means 76 is rocked to pull tabs 80 away from the bottom-most weights 6, thereby dropping these weights into receiving chamber 62. However, at the same time, another stop tab 84 projects into the magazines 74 when the top of bar 76 is rocked inwardly, thereby preventing more than one of the weights 6 from dropping from magazines 74. When the arm 58 is lowered and plunger 82 is out of contact with bar 76, bar 76 will assume its normal position with biasing spring 78 biasing the top stop 84 out of engagement with the weights in magazines 74 and the bottom stop 80 into engagement with the bottom of the lower-most of weights 6. Accordingly, a weight will be dropped into the lower-most position when bar 76 rocks back into its normal position. Magazines 74 flare outward horizontally to form upper openings sufficient in size to receive a horizontallydisposed weight. Thus, a weight may enter the top in a horizontal position and then, due to the flaring curvature of magazines 74, turn to a vertical position as it drops toward the bottom of the magazine. To feed weights 6 into magazines 74, stacks of weights 86 are disposed midway between the staggered magazines 74. A hole in the bottom of weight support 88 permits the weights to drop to a position between support 88 and top wall 36. Slide element 90 is disposed in this space also. Element 90 has formed therein holes 92 s'ufficient in size to pass a weight therethrough. When slide 90 is in its normal position, holes 92 are disposed above the forward-most of magazines 74. Slide 90 is attached to the free end of a piston rod 94 which in turn has formed on its other end a piston 96, all mounted in an air cylinder 98. Air cylinder 98 is mounted on top wall 36. When air cylinder 98 is operated, slide 90 is pushed forwardly to thereby drop weights from the stacks into holes 92. Further movement of slide 90 drops these weights into the forward set of magazines 74. Then on the return stroke another group of weights drops into holes 92 and these weights then drop into the rearward set of receiving magazines 74. Mounted on central support 42 and adjacent side wall 40 is jam bar receiving block 100. Jam bar receiving block 100 has formed therein a groove 102 adapted to receive a jam bar pair 104. Jam bar pair 104 forms the forward-most support for the wick lengths, as hereinafter pointed out. Rearward of jam bar 104 and mounted on central support 42 is receiving block 106. Receiving block 106 has formed in its upper-surface slots 108 and 110 which are adapted to receive a set of jam bars 112 and a rear-most set of jam bars 114. Disposed rearwardly of the jam bars 104, 112, and 114 are a plurali ty of spindles of wick-forming material 116. Operatively mounted above receiving block 106 and adapted to pass into block 106 between jam bars 112 and 114 is a hofizontally-slidable knife 118.

The operation of the device will now be explained with reference to FIGURES 8 and 9. First, lengths of wick are drawn from spindles 116 through slots 30 and 32 in the jam bars 114, 112, and 104. The free end of each wick length is then clamped between jam bar pair 104 by sliding the pair of jam bars longitudinally with respect to one another as previously described. The opposite end of wick lengths 2, however, is still attached to the original length of wicking on spindles 116. Assuming that the magazines 74 are filled with weights 6, as previously described, and air cylinder 48 is returning to its collapsed condition to rotate bar 56 and pivot arm 58 to its uppermost position adjacent magazines 74, plunger 82 will trip release means 76 releasing the lower-most ones of the weights 6 from chambers 74 and dropping these weights into receiving chamber 62. Air cylinder 48 is then actuated to begin lowering the free end of arm 58. As arm 58 is lowered, release means 76 is released closing magazines 74 at their lower-most end and dropping the weights 6 downwardly one position to again place a weight in a lower-most position. Substantially simultaneously with the beginning of the lowering of arm 58, air cylinder 72 is actuated to operate pinion and rack 64 and 66 and rotate receiving chamber 62. Receiving chamber 62 is rotated through substantially and such rotation is completed by the time the chamber reaches its lowermost position. As arm 58 then continues downwardly, the weights 6 are resting on wick lengths 2 with the wick lengths in the slot 10 in the periphery of weights 6. By forcing these weights downwardly against the wick lengths 2, the wick lengths are drawn downwardly to their predetermined length as shown by the dashed lines of FIGURE 8. Thus, when arm 58 reaches its lower-most position, a weight has been placed in the center of each of the wick lengths, and the wick lengths have been drawn to their finished or operative length where they will form two full-length candles in their vertically-disposed positions. When arm 58 has reached its lower-most position and wick lengths 2 are extended to their full predetermined length, clamp bar bar set between the jam bars. Similarly, the jam bars or jam bar set 112 is operated to clamp the portion of the wick length passing through slots 30 and 32 of that jam bar set between the jam bars. Similarly, the jam bars of jam bar set 114 are horizontally slid relative to one another to clamp the portion of the wick lengths passing through slots 30 and 32 of that set of jam bars between the two jam bars. Then knife 118 is slid to cut the wick material stretched between the jam bar sets 112 and 114. Arm 58 is then raised to its upper-most position where the cycle is repeated. With arm 58 in its upper-most position, the jam bars 104 and 112 are removed together with the weights 6 which are disposed on the wick lengths and these jam bars are then placed in parallel relationship on a dipping frame as previously described and in the position illustrated in FIGURE 4 of the drawings. The jam bar set 114 which now has the free ends of the wicking material from spindles 116 clamped in this jam bar set is then moved to the forward-most position in receiving block 102. New jam bar sets are placed in receiving block 106, and the wick material 2 is then in position for a repeat operation of forming the wick lengths and applying the weights thereto.

While each of the operations has been described as a single operation, and while each may be performed by hand, it is also within the purview of the present invention to perform each of these operations mechanically and in accordance with a predetermined program. For example, the actuation of air cylinders 48, 72, and 98 can be appropriately timed so that the machine will automatically perform each of the functions performed by these air cylinders. This then will leave only the clamping of the wick lengths between appropriate jam bar sets for the operator to perform. However, it should also be recognized that this operation can be performed mechanically by appropriate lever means adapted to slide the jam bars relative to one another and into clamping engagement on the wicking. Likewise, the sliding of knife 118 and the severing of the wicking between jam bar sets 112 and 114 can also be performed by an appropriate mechanism. All of these latter operations can also be programmed into the machine so that ultimately the entire operation can be programmed to operate automatically and all that the operator need do is replace the spindles of wicking 116 and thread the machine with the wicking when the supply of wicking is exhausted, replenish the supply of weights in the stacks 86 when these are depleted, and replace the jam bars between cycles. Other variations and modifications of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art and can be readily made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is to be limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A method of applying weights to wick lengths preparatory to the formation of candles by dipping, comprising:

(a) attaching a first elongated clamp bar to one end of each of a plurality of wick lengths disposed parallel to one another and in a generally horizontal plane;

(b) placing a weight on the tops of each of said wick lengths and pressing said weights downwardly to form a plurality of generally U-shaped loops whose side legs are each at least as long as the predetermined length of the candles to be formed;

() attaching a second elongated clamp bar to that leg of said loops opposite to the leg on which said first clamp bar is attached and at the same height as said first clamp bar; and

(d) suspending said clamp bars in parallel, horizontal relationship to one another on a dipping frame.

2. A method of applying weights to wick lengths preparatory to the formation of candles by dipping, comprising:

(a) attaching a first elongated clamp bar to one end of each of a plurality of wick lengths disposed parallel to one another and in a generally horizontal plane;

(b) placing a weight on the tops of each of said wick lengths and pressing said weights downwardly to form a plurality of generally U-shaped loops whose side legs are each at least as long as the predetermined length of the candles to be formed; and

(c) attaching a second elongated clamp bar to that leg of said loops opposite to the leg on which said first clamp bar is attached and at the same height as said first clamp bar.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein the weights are generally disc-shaped.

4. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein the weights are generally disc-shaped and have formed in their periphery annular grooves adapted to receive the wick length.

5. A method of applying weight to a wick length preparatory to the formation of candles by dipping, comprising:

(a) attaching a first clamp to one end of a horizontallydisposed, wick-forming material;

(b) placing a weight on top of said wick-forming material and pressing said weight downwardly to form a generally U-shaped loop whose side legs are each at least as long as the predetermined length of the candles to be formed; and

(c) attaching a second clamp to that leg of said loop opposite to the leg on which said first clamp is attached and at the same height as said first clamp.

6. A method of applying weights to wick lengths preparatory to the formation of candles by dipping, com prising:

(a) attaching a first elongated clamp bar to one end of each of a plurality of spaced, parallel wick lengths;

(b) attaching a second elongated clamp bar to each of said wick lengths parallel to said first clamp bar and spaced therefrom a distance at least equal to twice the predetermined length of the candles to be formed;

(0) forming a plurality of depending generally U- shaped loops from said wick lengths;

(d) suspending a weight in the interior portion of the base of each of said U-shaped loops; and

(e) suspending said first and second clamp bars in parallel relation on a dipping frame.

7. A method of applying weights to wick lengths preparatory to the formation of candles by dipping, comprising:

(a) attaching an elongated clamp bar to one end of each of a plurality of spaced, parallel wick lengths;

(b) attaching a second elongated clamp bar to each of said wick lengths parallel to said first clamp bar and spaced therefrom a distance at least equal to twice the predetermined length of the candles to be formed;

(c) forming a plurality of depending, generally U- shaped loops from said wick lengths; and

(d) suspending a Weight in the interior portion of the base of each of said U-shaped loops.

3. A method of applying weight to a wick length preparatory to the formation of candles by dipping, comprising:

(a) forming a generally U-shaped loop of wick material having parallel, vertically-disposed side legs each having a length at least equal to the predetermined length of the candle to be formed;

(b) suspending a weight in the interior portion of the base of said U-shaped loop; and

(c) suspending said weighted loop from a dipping frame.

9. A method of applying weight to a wick length preparatory to the formation of candles by dipping, comprising:

(a) forming a generally U-shaped loop of wick material having parallel, vertically-disposed side legs each having a length at least equal to the predetermined length of the candle to be formed; and

(b) suspending a weight in the interior portion of the base of said U-shaped loop.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,423,608 7/1922 Grossman 1827 1,898,739 2/1933 Meyer 29-527 X 2,989,942 6/1961 Freeman 29527 X 3,336,654 8/1967 Ryan 29-429 THOMAS H. EAGER, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

